BDutch's bantam flock & natural breeding projects #5 🪺 🪺 and #6

[BDutch]

You definitely don't like that name, you've made that clear. My name choices for the chickens are if nothing else, meant to crack me up

Your choices are hilarious. Great you choose such name as lady Gaga to make me laugh. But true, I would never name a rooster lady, unless he wears jewellery or high heals.

I definitely consider Rasta. Lets try and see if it sticks.

 

[fluffycrow]

high heals.

Funnily enough, I have seen some videos of roosters walking in high heels online, but can't say I'm a fan of having animals wear human things

 

[BDutch]

On another forum 2 Dutch persons think I have 3 boys. Hope they are wrong if course. But the third chicks looks more and more like the other 2.

The new coop is under the prune tree. I believe it’s a good permanent place with the door to the south east.
I’m blocking all the openings with 10mm hwc.

 

[Shadrach]

Last year year I bought organic grower pellets (made for broilers). But the mill stopt to supply it.
This year I bought organic chick/broiler crumble from another supplier. There is very little choice in organic chick feed where I live unless one wants to pay exorbitant prices.

I can't say I mind how much I spend on feed, or their keeping conditions which I have a few restrictions on. When peoples eyebrows raise at the amount I spend on feed I just ask them how much they've spent on their hobby that year.

 

[Shadrach]

10 years old is a very respectable age for a chicken.

 

[MaryJanet]

I can't say I mind how much I spend on feed, or their keeping conditions which I have a few restrictions on. When peoples eyebrows raise at the amount I spend on feed I just ask them how much they've spent on their hobby that year.

I have an uncle who loooves hot rod cars. We don't really see the point of each other's hobbies

 

[BDutch]

10 years old is a very respectable age for a chicken.

Yes, I know. But unfortunately she’s not very fit to be a broody anymore. She and Black didn’t do a great job with the eggs this time.

Ini mini also acts less smart with the chicks, now she is getting older. She escapes to free range when possible without checking if the chicks follow. Then starts calling the chicks behind the fence at the other side that has no door. Other chicken mama’s do this too more or less. But some years ago Ini mini went back to the chicks immediately after she noticed the chicks hadn’t followed.

Good mothers go out to collect a chick that is left behind* and peeps for help. Yesterday both Ini mini and Black didn’t seem to hear a chick peeping loudly (in trouble) at roost time.
The chick couldn’t find the pop door opening between the main run and the extension/coop area. I watched for a few minutes what he (Thomson?) was doing. Took Black out the nestbox and ‘dumped’ her in the run where the chick was peeping.
The chick stopped peeping. Black went through the pop and the chick followed.

*I opened up the compartments yesterday so the young family was no longer restricted to the second run with the mini coop/large nest box. Ini mini and Black obviously preferred to sleep in the nestbox where they hatched the eggs.

 

[BDutch]

I decided to let the mamas free range. One reason is, I havent seen the nasty tomcat anymore this year.
And today I can see how wel the mamas protect te chicks. I took a day off (not feeling very well).

About the genders of 3 Amrock chicks. I get/find all kind of info that is contradicting. Today I found this:

Auto-sexing
The Amrocks are auto-sexed, which means that their gender can be determined from birth. Roosters, especially as day-old chicks, have a large light spot on the head, while in hens this is a small spot. Furthermore, unlike the hens, the roosters have pigmentless legs. Finally, the hens turn out slightly darker and heavier.

When the first feathers emerge, it can be seen very quickly; the cockerels are lighter than the hens. I don't know if you can tell the basics of the chick's plumage yet, but when they get their wings you see that the roosters have white stripes that are just as wide as the black stripes, while the black stripes of the hens are twice as thick as the white ones. stripes.
I hope this is somewhat clear. You might find it useful to have a photo for illustration, so I can see if I still have it. That may be of a different breed, but the idea is the same

2 chicks have pigment on their from the day they hatched.
2 chicks have wide white stripes.
But they also have a tiny pointy comb.

 

[MaryJanet]

I decided to let the mamas free range. One reason is, I havent seen the nasty tomcat anymore this year.
And today I can see how wel the mamas protect te chicks. I took a day off (not feeling very well).

View attachment 3885230About the genders of 3 Amrock chicks. I get/find all kind of info that is contradicting. Today I found this:

Auto-sexing
The Amrocks are auto-sexed, which means that their gender can be determined from birth. Roosters, especially as day-old chicks, have a large light spot on the head, while in hens this is a small spot. Furthermore, unlike the hens, the roosters have pigmentless legs. Finally, the hens turn out slightly darker and heavier.

When the first feathers emerge, it can be seen very quickly; the cockerels are lighter than the hens. I don't know if you can tell the basics of the chick's plumage yet, but when they get their wings you see that the roosters have white stripes that are just as wide as the black stripes, while the black stripes of the hens are twice as thick as the white ones. stripes.
I hope this is somewhat clear. You might find it useful to have a photo for illustration, so I can see if I still have it. That may be of a different breed, but the idea is the same

2 chicks have pigment on their from the day they hatched.
2 chicks have wide white stripes.
But they also have a tiny pointy comb.

It's not as straightforward as I would expect!

 

[ManueB]

I decided to let the mamas free range. One reason is, I havent seen the nasty tomcat anymore this year.
And today I can see how wel the mamas protect te chicks. I took a day off (not feeling very well).

View attachment 3885230About the genders of 3 Amrock chicks. I get/find all kind of info that is contradicting. Today I found this:

Auto-sexing
The Amrocks are auto-sexed, which means that their gender can be determined from birth. Roosters, especially as day-old chicks, have a large light spot on the head, while in hens this is a small spot. Furthermore, unlike the hens, the roosters have pigmentless legs. Finally, the hens turn out slightly darker and heavier.

When the first feathers emerge, it can be seen very quickly; the cockerels are lighter than the hens. I don't know if you can tell the basics of the chick's plumage yet, but when they get their wings you see that the roosters have white stripes that are just as wide as the black stripes, while the black stripes of the hens are twice as thick as the white ones. stripes.
I hope this is somewhat clear. You might find it useful to have a photo for illustration, so I can see if I still have it. That may be of a different breed, but the idea is the same

2 chicks have pigment on their from the day they hatched.
2 chicks have wide white stripes.
But they also have a tiny pointy comb.

Hope you feel better.
How about asking the lady who sold you the eggs ? If she has hatched chicks for herself maybe she would know.
You will likely find out soon enough... but it feels like a longer time than it actually is when you're hoping for a pullet !